How long have you left your anemone tank unattended?

[KindCorals]

I'm just curious about this as I want to setup another anemone tank but I've also found a new sport, travelling! I'm curious how long you guys have left things on auto pilot, without incident of course, and what if any tips or tricks you have.

 

[RogueAgent94]

A friend of mine kept a Purple Long Tentacle 'nem in a 5g and left it without maintenance for upwards of two months. No waterchanges, no feeding, just automatic lights, and weekly water top offs from a neighbor. The tank didn't have a skimmer, just a HOB filter. Needless to say the tank was full of algae but the 'nem was still growing and seemingly doing well.

 

[KindCorals]

I really have no idea about LTA's but maybe I should clarify that I want BTA's or Carpets in my new tank and am really asking about them.

Still, 2 months is a looooong time!

 

[velvetelvis]

Based on disastrous personal experience, I'd wait (especially with an anemone) until you've got the travel bug out of your system. As I've found out before, it's all too easy to get complacent because everything "looks fine," only to have the system begin circling the drain because a problem wasn't detected till it reached crisis level. Believe me, that's a sickening feeling.

 

[KindCorals]

Based on disastrous personal experience, I'd wait (especially with an anemone) until you've got the travel bug out of your system. As I've found out before, it's all too easy to get complacent because everything "looks fine," only to have the system begin circling the drain because a problem wasn't detected till it reached crisis level. Believe me, that's a sickening feeling.

You understand my situation then! I've kept anemones for years and Ive always checked on them daily. But! there were periods where I only fed and added top off water regularly which can be automated or compensated for with proper water quality and lighting, but I'm not sure how long this would be enough for the anemones.